Worcester school boss search to stay local

Friday

Above, School Committee member Jack Foley argues in favor of a national search for a new superintendent/Brendan Egan photo

Worcester stayed local in hiring a city manager a little over two years ago. It looks like the same will be said of the city's next school superintendent.

The School Committee Thursday night voted, 5-2, to scrap a national search, and instead consider internal candidates. The committee also laid out a timeline to hire the next school chief to replace former School Superindent Melinda Boone, who resigned abruptly late last year to take the same job in Norfolk, Virginia.

There has been some conflict within the committee about whether the hunt should go national, a process favored by the previous School Committee. Two of those members, however, have since been ousted, with new members Molly McCullough and Donna Colorio, who actually returned to the committee after being ousted in 2013 after serving one term.

Colorio and McCullough joined committee members Brian O'Connell, John Monfredo and Dianna Biancheria in voting for a local search. Mayor Joe Petty and member Jack Foley voted against it.

Foley said he would support a national search, though he is not sold on its value.

“It is highly unlikely that a highly-qualified national candidate would apply for the job if we were to use a national search,” said Foley, citing the fact that the School Committee had listed the position previously and only received two responses after the first submission.

O’Connell said he would normally be one to support a national search, but he does not think that now is the time to do so. He said he would rather see someone who is familiar with Worcester and knows the students, teachers and administration take the helm.

Someone who is already familiar with students and staff will have a “significant advantage,” said O’Connell.

Committee members also cited an expedited recruitment timeline as reason to stick to a local pool of candidates.

Petty will put together two committees to oversee the search, to be announced during the first week of February. One committee will oversee the overall search, the other will focus solely on community involvement.

According to a timeline proposed by Petty, two public hearings would be held Feb. 2 and 3, at Doherty Memorial and North high schools, respectively.. The School Committee on Feb. 4 would approve a job description. The position would be advertised to staff starting Feb. 10. Applications would be due back by Feb. 29. The search committee would announce up to three finalists on Thursday, March 3. The School Committee would then interview the finalists at various schools between March 7-11. Communnity meet-and-greets would be held from March 14-16, also at various schools. The committee would select the new superintendent at its March 17 meeting.

While Marco Rodrigues has been serving as interim superintendent, there has been plenty of support voiced for South High principal Maureen Binienda. Keeping the search local, and wit the current make-up of the committee, Binienda would appear to be on the short list of candidates.

Wayne Griffin, a Worcester resident who spoke at the meeting, hinted rather unsubtly at his support for Binienda without naming her specifically. Griffin said he believes the money saved by keeping the search local should go back into a classroom—a sentiment shared by many Binienda supporters.

“I fully understand why people want an internal search,” said Petty. “I don’t agree with it, but I understand it.”

Colorio encouraged the city to publicize the community forums well enough to draw as many residents as possible.

“I would like to make sure that we have enough publicity in our forums so that the community can come out and participate,” she said. “I want them to feel welcome in that process.”